Sidecar

A stiff drink made of cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice, in a 3-2-1 ratio that's shaken and served up. Created by Harry at Harry's New York Bar, Paris, after the First World War for an eccentric Captain who turned up in a chauffeur-driven motorbike sidecar. It was an immensely popular drink during Prohibition.

• 3/4 ounce Cointreau
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 1 1/2 ounces cognac

Preparation Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has had its outside rim rubbed with lemon juice and dipped in sugar. Serve in a cocktail glass.

Caveat Listen to David Wondrich of Esqure magazine on this one: “This is a drink whose suavité is beyond question—it's the Warren Beatty of modern mixology. It's so easy, in fact, to be seduced by this clever old roué that a word of caution would not be out of place here. These gents have a way of stealing up on you and—bimmo! Next thing you know it's 8:43 on Monday morning and you're sitting in the backseat of a taxi idling in front of your place of employ. In your skivvies.”